Chapter 809: Abrupt News
After our mild introductions and brief complimentary greetings, I began to talk to Maria's parents.
Surprisingly, they weren't as bad as I imagined.
Duke Franklin was a charming man, who cared for his daughter much more than his expression allowed him to show. I somehow got the vibe of my father when I spoke to him.
A man who was quite busy, but loved her more than words could tell.
As for Maria's mother—Lilia—she was someone who had a jumpy body and a very active personality. It just felt odd that she remained stoic the whole time.
If she could change expressions the slightest bit, I could peg her as a very playful woman. Fortunately, it didn't really bother me after talking to both of them for some time.
'They're really good people.' I concluded within myself.
I honestly couldn't wait till we officially sealed the deal between our families.
"Psst! Hey, Jared!" A voice suddenly called out of nowhere, interrupting the small talk that was going on between both of our families.
I immediately recognized the voice, as well as the presence that approached us. It was Alphonse, in the flesh.
"Dad, where have you been?" My mother was the first to speak. "You won't even greet your daughter."
"Keke. You should know how it is by now. You're a big girl now, and yet you want some pampering every now and then? No way!" Alphonse fumed, walking towards me as his wrinkly face formed a smile.
"Got a sec, kid?" He whispered in my ear.
He didn't even give me any time to respond before he began drawing me away from the discussion.
'What the...?'
His face was particularly excited, and it seemed like he was about to burst just by holding whatever he was keeping inside. I was curious but also hesitant.
'Can I just leave the discussion like this?' I wondered to myself.
However, after looking at the Helmsworths and getting their nods of consent, I decided to go with the flow. Maria also didn't seem to mind—and I could now tell if she was upset or not, thanks to the time we had been spending together.
Since no one was against it, I went along with him.
"Well, it's always a pleasure, Alphonse." My father chuckled as he watched Alphonse drag me off.
"Yeah, yeah. Take better care of my daughter, will you? She's been craving an Adventure for some time now." My grandfather waved nonchalantly, not even bothering to look back at the two.
"W-wut...? Stop... it..." My mother whispered, blushing as she looked away.
That was the last scene I witnessed before I was completely carted away by the overexcited Alphonse.
'He had better have a good reason for this!' I found myself thinking.
*
*
*
"I overheard Elrich and Neron just now. They were discussing it so passionately. Apparently, it's the King's decision and everyone in the inner circle unanimously agreed!"
Alphonse regaled me of the highly improbable tale of his espionage.
There was no way my grandfather—despite how skilled he was—could sneak up on Neron and Elrich. And if it was something as important as the King's command, then that made it all the more secretive.
'Unless... they wanted him to hear it? Maybe.'
I still hadn't heard what this amazing news was. Anytime I asked, Alphonse used a roundabout tactic to keep talking about how important the whole thing was and how this would be the very first time something like it would occur in the Kingdom.
I was just about fed up at this point. Fortunately, Alphonse finally decided to fess up.
"You've been chosen as the new Grand Mage, Jared."
The moment I heard those words, my mind shut down.
And then, after a few seconds, my mind slowly began to recover. It returned to the past—to my first life. Back when I had been an ambitious child.
"I will be the greatest Grand Mage of the Kingdom!" I had often told myself and the many others around me.
I worked hard and studied even harder. I did all of those things, only to be told that I was inept. Back then, that path became completely closed to me.
Yet...
"R-really?" I muttered, surprised to hear my voice tremble.
The title of Grand Mage wasn't supposed to mean much to me at this point. I had already surpassed the Kingdom's current Grand Mages and the most powerful person in the kingdom wasn't even a Grand Mage.
Neron had shown me that one didn't need a title to be recognized as the most powerful. It should have been hollow to me.
Despite that, I found my heart racing and a smile forming on my face.
It was almost like I had become a child once again.
"Are you sure you heard it right, though?" I tried to shut down the welling excitement that seemed about to devour me whole.
"Come on, Jared. Don't you trust me? I wouldn't lie to you about something this important."
If Alphonse was sure, then how could I try to deny it?
Still, it sounded unbelievable. Granting such a title to someone who hadn't come of age yet... wasn't that too absurd?
'Well, I've done absurd things, so I guess it's understandable.'
This Kingdom and the other nations had been through a lot. We had endured and overcome the literal end of the world together.
We won.
'There are still a few important things to address... most importantly, Karlia. However, isn't this what I wanted?'
I was surrounded by friends, family, a lover, a purpose and a place in this new world. I could change this world even further and we could all grow together.
'This is all I've ever wante—'
>VWUUUUUUUUUSSSSHHHHHHHHHH!!!!<
Suddenly, even before I could properly respond to it, a dark swirling blot appeared in the sky. It contained sheer darkness and within it emerged two individuals.
A man and a woman.
And the most shocking part was that I recognized them both!
*
*
*
[A/N]
Almost time for the end of this Arc. Be prepared.
You know... I miss the comments and power stones you all used to give. For those who constantly support me, thank you. For those who don't... it isn't too late to start.